The first time Huston Street selected an intro song, he did so under duress.

He was a 21-year-old rookie with Oakland, was thrust in the closer’s role and a member of the A’s asked him on game day, “What music you want?”

“I don’t know,” replied Street.

“Well, you’ve got five minutes to decide.”

Street selected an instrumental by Nas.

After being acquired by the Padres last December, Street had months to think about a new song selection. Coming to the team that virtually invented the closer’s intro with Trevor Hoffman and AC/DC’s “Hells Bells,” Street took the task seriously.

“Sports are just a collection of traditions,” he said. “This is the birthplace of it. ‘Hells Bells.’ Trevor Hoffman. It’s synonymous with the ninth inning.”

As fans discovered Wednesday evening, Street settled on “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent. At the suggestion of Padres strength and conditioning coach Jim Malone, Street made the decision early in spring training.

“I’ve loved that song for 30 years,” Malone said. “If I were a closer, this is a song I would like because you think about coming in and you’ve got the opposing team in a stranglehold. Ted Nugent, he’s out of his mind. That’s the kind of controlled craziness, if I were a closer, I’d want to come out to.”

The pertinent lyrics:

Got you in a stranglehold baby,

you better get out of the way

“When Jim made that suggestion,” said Street, “it was more of a relief. I felt we had achieved the moment. It’s kind of vintage, a classic.”

Trevor approves

Street said Hoffman gave his choice a two-thumbs up.

“That was important to me,” Street said. “I wanted him to approve, absolutely. The respect I have for him as a player, as a person, you always want somebody like Trevor Hoffman to be in your corner.”

A whole two seasons?

Tweeted Friday @ESPNStatsInfo: “Matt Cain is first to throw a 1-hitter where the only hit came by an opposing pitcher since R.A. Dickey in 2010.” Wow, way back when in 2010.

Aztecs fever, catch it

San Diego State has received deposits for 2,000 new basketball season tickets. Last year’s season-ticket count: about 7,000.

In the five days since it was announced that the Aztecs would play UCLA in the Wooden Classic, SDSU sold 2,300 tickets to the Dec. 1 game at Anaheim’s Honda Center. The university receives a portion of ticket sales sold through the university. Tickets may be purchased at